As of 2012 - No More Baseball and Softball in the Olympics
Was this an anti-American move brought on by the European dominated International Olympic Committee? That cannot be proven, but the fact remains that Softball and Baseball will be dropped from the Olympic program starting in London in 2012.
Whatever the reason, there were a number of vocal statements made:
“I think anti-Americanism was a factor,” International Softball Federation president Don Porter said.
“I am shocked and deeply disappointed,” said Dot Richardson, a two-time Olympic gold medalist in softball. “It’s a shame that politics between nations will affect in a negative way the future dreams of young girls and young women.”
“It’s very disappointing, because it could kill the dreams of millions of little girls who hope to compete in our sport at the highest level,” said American pitcher Lisa Fernandez, a three-time gold medalist. “It’s hard to see something that has proven itself in the Olympic movement and see it snatched away without any reason.”
Dropped from the London Games seven months ago, women’s softball and baseball got a second chance Thursday to make a case for reinstatement. The result, though, was the same: The European-dominated International Olympic Committee rejected pleas from two very traditional American sports.
source: Baseball and softball are out of the 2012 Olympics
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9 opinions for As of 2012 - No More Baseball and Softball in the Olympics
Squib
Feb 10, 2006 at 2:46 am
rediculous.
Add ballroom dancing and drop baseball.
Let’s get rid of swimming to get at the australians, and ping-pong to get the orientals
Jeremy W.
Feb 10, 2006 at 3:18 am
Erm, I’m glad it’s dropped. It’s not an Olympic sport by any measure. To me, Olympic class sports actually require you to break a sweat ;-)
Squib
Feb 10, 2006 at 3:19 am
yeah, sure. This is coming from someone (me, that is) who actually is very much not fond of baseball, but it’s a heck of a lot more sporty than dancing or curling
Jeremy W.
Feb 10, 2006 at 3:23 am
Curling is a great sport! I’m not sure about ballroom either, but curling is better than baseball (and a damned sight faster too! :D).
I don’t see it as in any way anti-American. Sports are added or removed all the time. I suspect one of the key reasons it was removed is that it is one of the only sports in the entire games that requires such a unique field configuration. Most cities just build a single stadium just for baseball (since football isn’t on there, and neither is rugby). It’s madness, just from a logistical level. And, when 50% of the countries don’t even play baseball at any level?
Yeah, I can think of a few good reasons to cut it. Then again, most of the same logic applies ot curling…
Squib
Feb 10, 2006 at 4:21 am
true, true, but it’s not like they’re short on funds.
Besides, the Japanese seem to win it, not the Americans, so they’re the ones who will be really ticked off
Phillip Molly Malone
Feb 10, 2006 at 5:56 am
How can you say its anti-american when the yanks don’t even take it seriesly!
Molly
coach_rc
Jul 29, 2007 at 8:03 am
Wow! I can’t believe what I’m reading… I have played baseball all my life to include All Marine Corp league while in the Marine Corps. Both my daughters play softball at a travel ball level. I coach at a high school in So. Calif. Not only do they sweat, there are alot of tears aswell.. Removing softball from the olympics is just wrong. Most of these young girls look foward to playing at the olympic level. They have stayed out of trouble just to try to get there… I honestly believe that it’s a bad judement call, and hope it remeins in the oliympics.
Coach Rc Whittier, Ca.
amber
Mar 13, 2008 at 10:32 am
the last sport dropped from the olympics was polo like 60 years ago. they are not dropped all the time.
meagan
Apr 30, 2008 at 12:51 pm
that is wrong! think of all the kids that play now. most of them have dreams of being in the olympics. now they are crushed…. and for your information they do break a sweet! you go out there for 3 hours in 100 degree weather and you tell me that you dont break a sweat
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